Blackberry plant named ‘HJ-6’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘HJ-6’. The new variety resulted from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross of two non-patented varieties: “Obsidian” as the female, and “Eaton” as the male. The new, trailing cultivar can be distinguished by its consistent, large fruit size and appearance during the late spring and summer period for the fresh market. The fruit of this cultivar is produced on dark red, strong, thorny canes. When plants are grown and pruned correctly, yield in central California, USA can be up to 9,000 crates/acres, and the fruit ships well.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/311,466 filed Mar. 8, 2010, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct trailing blackberry variety designated as ‘HJ-6’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors, Harold A. Johnson Jr. and Judith E. Johnson, in 2005 between the blackberry variety designated ‘Obsidian’ (female) and the blackberry variety designated ‘Eaton’ (male), both parental varieties unpatented. The variety ‘HJ-6’ is botanically known as Rubus ursinus.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot near Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2007 by the inventors. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated beginning in October of 2007 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. by tissue culture. The new variety was then tested in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘HJ-6’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in Calif., and is being tested in Ventura County, Calif., and in Europe. ‘HJ-6’ has reacted favorably to the coastal climates of northern coastal California, but for maximum fruit production, ‘HJ-6’ requires consistent soil moisture and adequate nutrition. ‘HJ-6’ reacts favorably to an environment created by plastic tunnels.

The following traits have been observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘HJ-6’, which in combination distinguish this blackberry plant as a new and distinct variety.

-   -   1. consistent production of large in size and good quality         fruit, regardless of the time of year and the age of the plant;     -   2. large fruit size responds favorably to careful packing when         shipped in 6 oz. clamshell baskets;     -   3. thorny and trailing plant structure; and     -   4. late spring fruit production, starting in June, with peak         production in late June, and continued, limited production         through July and August, when grown in Santa Cruz County, Calif.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-6’ is compared to the female parental variety ‘Obsidian’, the following trait differences have been observed:

-   -   1. the peak fruit production of ‘HJ-6’ occurs later than         ‘Obsidian’, but earlier than most erect types;     -   2. in holding testing after picking, the average flavor rating         was the same, but HJ-6 rated higher in appearance than Obsidian         after various days in cold storage;     -   3. HJ-6 has produced more commercial quality fruit in crates per         acre than ‘Obsidian’, and a smaller percentage of non-commercial         quality fruit per acre;     -   4. the average soluble solids concentration of Obsidian is 10.8,         and HJ-6 is 9.3; and     -   5. the average seed size of HJ-6 is is 3.54 mm in length and         1.93 mm in width, and Obsidian is 3.52 mm in length and 1.93 mm         in width.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-6’ is compared to the male parental variety ‘Eaton’, the following trait differences have been observed:

-   -   1. the fruit size of ‘HJ-6’ is consistently larger than the         fruit of ‘Eaton’;     -   2. the fruit shape of ‘HJ-6’ is medium ovate while the fruit         shape of ‘Eaton’ is long and conic;     -   3. ‘HJ-6’ has determinate inflorescence which limits the number         of peduncles as well as the length and number of each pedicel         per plant leading to a limited number of berries which are         larger in size, whereas ‘Eaton’ has indeterminate inflorescence         which produces a larger number of smaller berries per plant;     -   4. ‘HJ-6’ has an abundant supply of pollen which leads to a         minimum number of malformed fruit, whereas ‘Eaton’ lacks         consistently good pollen at the end of its indeterminate         infloresences and thus often produces poorly-shaped, small         fruit;     -   5. ‘HJ-6’ has larger leaves than ‘Eaton’; and     -   6. ‘HJ-6’ has stronger overall vegetative strength than ‘Eaton’.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-6’ is compared to the similar variety ‘HJ-7’ (U.S. Ser. No. 13/385,249), the following trait differences have been observed:

-   -   1. the fruit production of ‘HJ-6’ occurs later in the season         than ‘HJ-7’;     -   2. the overall (total season) production of ‘HJ-6’ is greater         than that of ‘HJ-7’;     -   3. the average berry size of ‘HJ-6’ (8-10 g) is larger than the         average berry size of ‘HJ-7’ (6-7 g);     -   4. the leaf color of ‘HJ-6’ is lighter in early June (7.5 GY4-4)         than the leaf color of ‘HJ-7’ at the same point in the season         (7.5 GY3-2); and     -   5. ‘HJ-6’ is considered superior to ‘HJ-7’ in side-by-side         flavor test results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new blackberry variety, ‘HJ-6’ as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Plants shown in the photographs are two years old.

FIG. 1, taken in October 2009, illustrates the typical large fruit produced by ‘HJ-6’ that is long-conical to oblong in shape, contains large druplets, and has thorns on the pedicel. FIG. 1 further illustrates the typical foliage produced by HJ-6; that comprises mostly 5 leaflets, each leaflet being ovate to oblique in shape, with an acuminate to acute apex, bi-serrate serrations, and palmate venation. The leaf petiole, as well as, the fruit peduncle, as further illustrated in FIG. 1, has a red surface.

FIG. 2, taken in June 2010, illustrates the fruit size and short pedicels of a typical inflorescence that is held mainly near or on the exterior of a plant in early June. The fruit is presented mostly accessible to pickers. The drupelets are typical in size and appearance. The leaflets and their serrations are typical.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of ‘HJ-6’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons in Santa Cruz County, Calif. The plants observed were two years old. The phenotypical descriptions and color designations stated for the new variety may vary, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, location and cultural conditions. ‘HJ-6’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.

Table 1 provides a botanical comparison of ‘HJ-6’ to the following two (2) unpatented, commercially grown varieties in Santa Cruz County, Calif.: (1) ‘Obsidian’, a trailing, semi-erect, thorny and early ripening variety (female parental variety), and (2) ‘Chester Thornless’, an erect, thornless, and late ripening variety.

TABLE 1 Botanical Comparison with Comparison Varieties Comparison Comparison Variety 2 Variety 1 ‘CHESTER CHARACTER- New Variety OBSIDIAN THORNLESS’ ISTIC ‘HJ-6’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Plant Form Growth Habit Trailing, semi- Trailing, semi- Semi-erect upright upright Plant Height 4 to 5 feet 4 to 5 feet 5 to 6 feet Suckering Abundant Abundant Abundant Branching Indeterminate Indeterminate Indeterminate Cane Texture Thorny Thorny Smooth Hardiness Very Hardy Very Hardy Very Hardy Canes Diameter Large—1.8 cm Medium—1.2 cm Large—1.2-2.0 cm Floricane Same Diameter Same Diameter Same Diameter Immature Round to Round to Angular Angular Primocane Angular Color Prickles Red to Green Red to Green None Mature Canes All red 2.5 R 2/2 Upper side red 2.5 Upper side red R 2/6 2.5 R 2/7 Foliage Robust, large Robust, medium Robust, late- leaves leaves emergence Predominate Mostly 5, some 3 Mostly 3, 4 and 5 Mostly 5, some 3 Number of Leaflets Leaf Type Mainly palmate Odd palmate to Mainly palmate intermediate Leaf Color Upper Surface 5 GY 3/4 5 GY 3/4 10 GY 2/4 Lower Surface 7.5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY 6/6 Central Leaflet Ovate with Ovate with acute Ovate with Shape acuminate apex to acuminate apex acuminate apex Leaflet Relief Medium Strong Strong Between Veins Spine Attitude Outward, some Mainly outward No spine down Serrations of Shallow Shallow Shallow Leaflets Leaf Incision of Bi-serrate Bi-serrate Bi-serrate Margin Pubescence Infrequent, no Abundant, no Infrequent, no glandular hairs glandular hairs glandular hairs Petioles Color Top—2.5 R 2/2 Predom. 5 GY 2/2 Predom. 5 GY Bottom—5 GY 2/2 2/2 Texture Smooth, small Predom. smooth Smooth thorns Length 4-6 cm 3-5 cm 2-3 cm Width 2-2.5 mm 1.5-2 mm 1.5-2 mm Flowers Blooming Period Mid-March to Early March to June April April Pedicels Short—3-6 cm Medium—3-6 cm Short pedicels on raceme peduncle Petals Number 5 to 6 5 5 Shape Irregular Irregular elliptical Irregular elliptical elliptical Color White; N9 25/84 White; N9 25/84 Pink, 2.5 RP 5/10 2% R 2% R Pollen Strong Strong Strong Sepals Number 5 5 5 Length 5-10 mm; some 4-8 mm; some 4-6 mm; no leaf with leaf with leaf extensions extensions extensions Fruit Productivity Medium-high; High Medium long picking season Time of Fruiting Late spring to Late May to July August to summer, June- September July Size Very large; avg. Medium-large; Medium-large; 8 gm avg. 6 gm avg. 6-8 gm Shape Oblong to conic Elliptical, some Oblong to conic circular Color Immature Green to red Green to red Green to red Mature N 1.75/2.5% R N 1.75/2.5% R N 1.75/2.5% R Glossiness Medium to Full Medium to Full Very glossy Weight 6 to 12 gm 6 to 8 gm 6 to 10 gm Length 30 to 35 mm 25 to 30 nun 25 to 30 mm Diameter 20 to 25 mm 20 to 25 nun 20 to 30 mm Drupelets Size 3 to 4 mm 2.5 to 3 mm 3 to 4.5 mm Seed Length 3.54 mm 3.52 mm 3.35 mm Width 1.93 mm 1.92 mm 1.96 mm Soluble Solids 9.2% 10.8% pH Yield 9343 crates/acre 6824 crates/acre avg. avg. Disease/Pest Red mite Red mite Red mite Resistance susceptible susceptible susceptible Uses Fresh market Fresh market; Fresh market processing When color is identified, the Munsell Book of Color (March 1976) is used. Yield—crates/acre (crate = 4.5 lb) 

1. A new and distinct plant of Rubus Ursinus, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 